One of the purposes of this site is to help interested
people find more Cornish music. When I started collecting Cornish songs, this presented
quite a problem. (see story). I hope to help others have an easier
time finding, procuring and perhaps learning Cornish songs and other Cornish music.
(Please e-mail additions, corrections and
suggestions.)

Many years after she was
taken from us - a new Brenda Wootton CD! Recorded during her triumphal run
in Paris.
www.brendawootton.com

Here's a music site I recently came across - haven't looked at it in detail, but it looks
very interesting! www.isleoflight.co.uk

The songs I sing are largely popular songs such as would
be sung in the pub or anywhere a group of people might suddenly feel like singing
together. Most are traditional, with some that are more contemporary. So I guess I'll
start with sources of Cornish songs.

VOCAL

The Bolingey Troyl Bandperforms
both instumental and vocal numbers and is a very popular ceilidh band. Their latest
recording Gwenogennow Hag Oll(Warts and All) contains
delights of both sorts, including traditional and new material. This would be an excellent
introduction to Cornish music for those not already familiar. Fans of Cornish music should
also pick it up. There's a lot to like here.

JINKS' STACK is a 3-man acapella vocal harmony group who
perform anything from Cornish folk songs to Beatles songs, with the emphasis on the
traditional. Lovers of sea songs will find a lot to like here, as well as anyone who
appreciates fine harmony. The three voices, representing the full range of male voice,
make magic, and you never miss instrumental accompaniments. I know of two recordings from
Jinks' Stack: SEE THE BOYS OUT WALKING and SECOND TIME AROUND.
I had the great good fortune to meet Jinks Jenkin and his family on a visit to Cornwall.
From Brio Music (See below.)

SUE WHITE is a pen-pal of mine and a lovely singer of
songs, both folk and contemporary. Three of her titles are CORNISH FOLK SONGS,
CORNISH HARMONIES (With Rachel Daniel and Esther Dudley - another dynamite 3-part
combination) and PADSTOW MAYDAY. These are studio recordings with excellent
backup, ranging from Sue on guitar to full band. Her contact address PO Box 380,
Exeter, Devon, EX2 7ZF. Email her at: cornishsinger@hotmail.com
Her web site URL is www.cornishsinger.com
.

BRENDA WOOTTON- (Now the late lamented I'm afraid)
Was/is the Dean of Cornish folksingers. She has many recordings out, too many to list. Her
voice, with a marvelous range, could be tender, bawdy, powerful, wistful, and a lot more.
In various combinations ranging from single harmony partners (Including the
legendary John the Fish!) to children's' choruses and
brass bands, Ms Wootton covered the gamut of Cornish songs, some in the Cornish language.
No collection of Cornish music can be complete (Complete? - can't be BEGUN!)
without Brenda Wootton's recordings. From Brio Music (See below.)

TREVOR LAWRENCE is a wonderful singer/storyteller.
He does some of his
own, many traditional songs and some of the best contemporary songs about the state of
Cornwall today. His storytelling prowess is legendary, and his tape SONGS, POEMS AND
LEGENDS has some of his best. Trev is also an expert on Cornish wrestling, and
many other things. Just stop in at his pub and ask! From Brio Music (see below.)

JOHN BARBERAND THE ST. IVES MINSTRELS have a
recording out called CORNWALL IS CALLING (There may be others as well.) I'm
afraid that I know little about John Barber except that this tape is indispensable. He
shares the performance duties with members of his chorus both in solo and ensemble, with
stories mixed among the songs. Most of these are original songs on traditional themes.
Some have the harmonic profile that predates barbershop harmony, which was based on the
Cornish "3-Man songs" form and originated in Cornwall. From Brio Music (see
below.)

PAUL SIRMAN And his recording ONE FOR ALL
is worthy of inclusion if only for his song "SOLOMAN BROWNE" about an heroic
Cornish lifeboat crew. Several of the most popular traditional Cornish titles are here,
and Sirman includes non-Cornish material (which is also very enjoyable) on this tape.
From Brio Music (See Below.)

PATTI BROOKS is from the Isles of Scilly, and, to her
credit, is not above making a pun of the name in her song "Scilly Boy."
Her tape HERE WHERE MY HEART IS is full of lovely original songs from and
about these remote western islands. From Brio Music (See Below.)

FRIDAY NIGHT AT CADGWITH is not a group but an event.
Every Friday a crowd gathers at the pub in Cadgwith, a town on the Lizard Peninsula, to
sing. They have no leader and the membership constantly evolves. They make wonderful
music, including their signature piece "CADGWITH ANTHEM (THE ROBBERS RETREAT.)"
The tape FRIDAY NIGHT AT CADGWITH includes some of their best, mixing
Cornish traditional with other including American songs, with an emphasis on songs about
the sea. From: Chough Tapes, 42 Penmere Drive, Newquay, Cornwall, TR7 1QQ. Web site: www.choughtapes.co.uk

LUXON AND CROFUT (more accurately Ben Luxon and Bill
Crofut) have a wonderful CD out called TWO GENTLEMEN FOLK. It is a live
recording with these two opera-capable voices (Yes, it's THAT Luxon - and he's a
Cornishman!) and some of the best sidemen available. There's only one Cornish song, but
it's the only place I've found this particular Cornish song - "SWEET
NIGHTINGALE" - which is odd as it is considered one of the principal traditional
Cornish songs. The rest of the CD is marvelous, with Welsh, American and other styles
well represented. From Telarc.

SOUNDS LIKE WEST CORNWALL is a collection, including cuts
from some of the above, interspersed with sounds of the sea, the mines and other Cornish
audio. It is an indispensable souvenir of Cornwall and a good way to sample a lot of
Cornish sounds. From Brio Music (see below.)

Marion Howardis a
fine Cornish-American singer. Based out of Darlington WI, she performs programs of Cornish
songs and stories. I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Marion on several
occasions, and she never fails to delight with her honest, clear and very musical
presentation. Marion has a CD out (A steal at $12.00) with many traditional and
some original songs, all performed beautifully. Get in touch with Marion
at mhoward@mhtc.net

SPOKEN WORD

MRS. ROSEWARNE has two tapes out that I know of. Her
first was A BIT OF CHAT WITH MRS. ROSEWARNE. The one I have is MRS.
ROSEWARNE ENTERTAINS. Mrs. Rosewarne is a character that Lilla Miller takes around
to concerts, banquets and many other venues large and small. She is a lovely Cornish lady
who loves to tell you all about her life and the people she knows and the things that
happen to them. It is a bit of a surprise to her that people find the things she says so
side-splittingly funny. Also a great way to get inside the Cornish accent and a bit of
dialect. From Chough Tapes (address above.)

MADGE FIGGEY THE WRECKER AND OTHER CORNISH LEGENDS is the
name of a tape narrated by JULIA McLEAN containing four well-done
tellings of traditional Cornish folk-tales. Depending little on enhancements or recording
magic, and mostly on Ms McLean's wonderful readings, this tape brings these stories to
life. From: Julia McLean, Nanscawen Barn, Newmill, Penzance, Cornwall TR20 8XX.

INSTRUMENTAL

ANAO ATAO is a band that I have had the pleasure of
meeting and watching more than once. Its core is the couple KYT LE NEN DAVEY and
his wife SOAZIG, with their daughters STERENN and MAELA. They are all
multi-instrumentalists, and the ladies of the band often demonstrate and teach Cornish
dances while Papa plays the squeezebox. Their CD ESOTERIC STONES brings
together Kyt's Cornish background and Soazig's Breton birth and synthesizes these and
other Celtic influences into a complex and delightful contemporary mix. From ANAO ATAO, Te
Anao, Withiel, Bodmin, PL30 5NN, Cornwall, G.B. For their web page, go HERE!

Asteveryn is a ceili band and dance troupe
popular at parties and concerts all over Cornwall. Formerly known under the name of Cam
Kernewek {meaning Cornish Step} - a group founded at the end of 1979 to promote and
perform researched Cornish Dances. The name Asteveryn derives from the phrase
"Asteveryn agan Ertach Kernewek" or "Let us replenish our Cornish
Heritage". The group operates as a Cornish Troyl {ceili/barn dance} Band with a
caller or as a Cornish Dance Demonstration Team. You can find out more about the
group, its members and also keep up with their current booking list by contacting Jim Pengelly:
Tel: 01209-820644

THE NEWLIN REELERS are a more familiar sort of group,
resembling the traditional Irish jig/reel band. In fact, their tape A BIT MORE ROSIN
contains O'Carolan compositions, American tunes and other influences as well as Cornish
melodies. A word of caution; on my copy the labeling is wrong, and it lists the side 1
titles as being the side 2 titles and vice-versa. A bit confusing until you realize. From
Brio Music (address below.)

HAL-AN-TOW is a CD from singer SANDRA REID and
frame drummer RANDY CRAFTON. While avoiding the "Celtic New Age" genre,
they manage to take music from all of the Celtic nations, sung in original languages, and
make them feel contemporary. Only one Cornish number, but very worthwhile. (This one might
well be in the vocal category, but it is all in languages I don't understand, so I'm
thinking of the voice as an instrument.) From Lyrichord Disks, 141 Perry St. New
York, NY 10014.

(I know I'm a shameless self-promoter, but if I don't do it, who will?)

CELTIC FESTIVAL 1996- LIVE AT OATLANDS Is a
compilation CD of great (if I do say so) performances at the 1996 Oatlands (now
called the Potomac) Celtic fest in Leesburg Virginia (D.C. area.) In addition to my
track (#11) there are numbers from ANDY M. STEWART, THE POOR CLAIRES, IONA
(Who also do some Cornish - but not on this CD) MACTALLA, and many other fine
Celtic groups. It's a wonderful sampler of Celtic music.
From Barnaby Productions, PO Box 1160, Burke, VA 22009-1160

BELOW

I kept saying "See below" so here it is:

BRIO MUSIC Has a catalog of many fine Cornish musical groups,
including folk groups mentioned above as well as bands, choruses and many
others. Visit
http://www.brio-music-distribution.com/index.html to see their selection,
including "Christmas at Cadgwith," an excellent source of the sounds of Cornish
Christmas cheer!